Trans man who gave birth loses latest appeal to be known as his child's father

A transgender man who gave birth has lost his latest court battle to be registered as "father" or "parent" on the birth certificate, rather than "mother".

Freddy McConnell said that forcing him to be recorded as his child's "mother" is a breach of his human right to respect for private and family life.On Wednesday, three Court of Appeal judges ruled against him, saying the issue raised complicated "interlinked" legislation, and that the reform is a matter for parliament.Mr McConnell, who was the first transgender man in the UK to carry and give birth to his own baby, launched the appeal after he was ruled against at the High Court in London in September.

Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the Family Division of the High Court, said that people who give birth are legally the mother of their child, regardless of their gender, adding that there is a "material difference between a person's gender and their status as a parent".

Lord Burnett, the lord chief justice and most senior judge in England and Wales, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Singh, all upheld the original High Court ruling, after considering arguments made at a Court of Appeal hearing in March.Mr McConnell could now head to the Supreme Court for a fresh appeal.